From da Projects to the Block

Watched Attack the Block. Loved every moment of it and at the start the movie did push me a bit back to ‘The Wire‘ marathon that had gone on over the last couple of months in my single room cell.

Attack the Block takes place in the British housing blocks that form a cesspool of crime and other nocturnal activities that offend our prim and propah sensibilities. These areas are the same no matter where you are. The Wire reflected a similar locale that turned the very American dream on its head, not that there is much dreaming happening in the States nowadays.

The Block is a joy ride from the word go. The unlikely heroes of this piece are a bunch of muggers who then take their victim under their wing and set out to rid their block of the space vermins. Irony personified, the movie has its share of cheeky comments that would have film study critics deconstructing the very essence of the film. But fuck the film critics, though they have loved the movie… This movie is fun and the characters are natural as they come in all their dark humour and Brit banter.

I personally loved the two little young ‘uns who go about trying to emulate the boys in the hood and do manage to subdue one of the aliens in hilarious fashion. They do know how to handle their ‘Christmas gifts’. The aliens are ugly as usual, but I can’t say that for the rest of the cast.

Moses, the protagonist, proves to be the chosen one who takes the fight to the aliens and rescues his block, in line with his namesake from the Old Testament. John Boyega, who takes on this part, is impressive in his first feature film and I am sure there’s a lot more in store for this kid.

As if the aliens were not enough to contend with, you have drug kingpins and cops out to get Moses and his gang of wannabe gangsta’s and in this mish-mash of action a hilarious platform is built as the team jumps from one peril to the next.

Brit Cinema is taking things to the next level and it won’t be long before they invade America’s hallowed sci-fi genre. Directors like Joe Cornish are proving that there’s more to Brit cinema than pompous old farts having their evening tarts in trays wheeled in on silver carts. Love it Britain… keep it coming.

And Hollywood, you try and remake this movie… I will personally ensure that you get yourself insured. This is Britains Block.